European Games

Mattsson, Sadulaev Look for Second Titles at European Games

Wednesday, June 26, 2019 - 18:53 By United World Wrestling Press

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MINSK, Belarus (June 26) - Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) and Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) claimed victories in the semifinals of the European Games on Wednesday and now stand one win away from winning their second titles. 

The 29-year-old Mattsson, a six-time world medalist and 2016 Olympic bronze-medal winner, reached the finals at 53kg by defeating Nina HEMMER (GER) 10-2. All the points scored came in the first period. Mattsson's first European Games title in 2015 came at 55kg. 

She will meet Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR) in the gold-medal match. Khavaldzhy stunned two-time European champion Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS) 7-4 in the semifinals. Orshush led for most of the match until Ukrainian mounted a late comeback to pull out the victory. With Orshush leading 4-1, Khavaldzhy scored a takedown with 35 seconds remaining in the match before picking up multiple exposures to win by three.

Sadulaev, a 2016 Olympic champion and three-time world champion, advanced to the finals at 97kg by earning his third straight shutout victory. He topped world No.8 Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR) 6-0, with five of his points coming in the first period. He will meet Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) for the gold medal. 

Gadzhiyev shut out Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR) in the other semifinal at 97kg. Gadzhiyev, a European bronze medalist and past junior world champion, built a 3-0 lead in the first period and added two second-period takedowns while shutting down Mchedlidze's offense.

The 65kg gold-medal final will feature a pair of world champions, Haji ALIYEV (AZE) and Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO).

Aliyev, a three-time world champion, overcame a slow start to defeat Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR) 4-4 on criteria. Ohannesian controlled the first period, scoring off a passivity and then securing a takedown to grab a 3-0 lead at the break. Aliyev came out strong in the second period, picking up a takedown to cut the deficit to 3-2. With 22 seconds left, Aliyev scored a takedown to go ahead and held on for the criteria win.

Khinchegashvili, a 2016 Olympic champion, trailed 1-0 at the break in his semifinal match against two-time world bronze medalist Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), but came back to win 8-2 to reach the gold-medal match.

In women's wrestling at 68kg, two-time European champion Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) knocked off world No.1 and returning world champion Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR) 4-2. Bratchikova scored first with a step out and then countered an attack for a takedown to build a 3-0 lead. Cherkasova inched closer with a takedown in the first minute of the second period to cut the deficit to 3-2. With 14 seconds remaining Bratchikova, extended her lead with a step out and held on for the victory.

Bratchikova will face Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) for the gold medal. Grigorjeva defeated Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU) 10-3 in the semifinals. 

RESULTS

Freestyle 

65kg
GOLD - Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) vs. Haji ALIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Vladimer KHINCHEGASHVILI (GEO) df. Akhmed CHAKAEV (RUS), 8-2
SEMIFINAL - Haji ALIYEV (AZE) df. Hor OHANNESIAN (UKR), 4-4

97kg
GOLD - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) vs. Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE)
SEMIFINAL - Abdulrashid SADULAEV (RUS) df. Aliaksandr HUSHTYN (BLR), 6-0
SEMIFINAL - Nurmagomed GADZHIYEV (AZE) df. Murazi MCHEDLIDZE (UKR), 7-0

Women's Wrestling

53kg
GOLD - Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) vs. Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR)
SEMIFINAL - Sofia MATTSSON (SWE) df. Nina HEMMER (GER), 10-2
SEMIFINAL - Yulia KHAVALDZHY (UKR) df. Stalvira ORSHUSH (RUS), 7-4

68kg
GOLD - Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) vs. Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS)
SEMIFINAL - Anastasija GRIGORJEVA (LAT) df. Danute DOMIKAITYTE (LTU), 10-3
SEMIFINAL - Anastasiia BRATCHIKOVA (RUS) df. Alla CHERKASOVA (UKR), 4-2
 

Development

2025 UWW Pat Shaw Memorial concludes in Guatemala City

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 11:30 By United World Wrestling Press

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GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (June 2) -- The 2025 UWW Pat Shaw Memorial - Regional Education Development Tournament (REDT) successfully concluded once again in Guatemala City, continuing the tradition of excellence in wrestling development across the Americas.

From May 26 to June 1, athletes, coaches, referees, and officials gathered at the Center for High-Performance and Development of America (CARDA) and the Erick Barrondo Sports Complex for a week of intensive educational activities and training camps. The event offered a unique platform where participants could simultaneously improve their technical, pedagogical, and competitive skills.

The coaches’ course was conducted under the leadership of Iranian expert Professor Reza AZIMI, assisted by Ardeshir ASGARI (NCA), who also supported with translation. A total of 22 coaches from 11 countries took part in these sessions, which combined theoretical classes with practical on-mat application, allowing for immediate implementation of newly acquired knowledge.

In parallel, the referees’ course was led by Guatemalan international referee Hugo FIGUEROA, with the participation and support of UWW Referee Commission Member Rafael GALVA LEBRON (Puerto Rico). A total of 13 referees from 9 countries attended the seminar, actively engaging in discussions, case studies, and on-mat evaluations.

Throughout the entire week, participants demonstrated strong enthusiasm and commitment, sharing experiences and strengthening the regional wrestling community.

The educational portion of the event officially opened on May 26, with an inauguration ceremony attended by several dignitaries, including Ramón Francisco GONZÁLEZ PINEDA, President of the Guatemalan Wrestling Federation, and Francisco Eduardo LEE LÓPEZ, President of United World Wrestling Americas, who addressed all participants with words of encouragement.

The training camp allowed athletes from across the continent to train together, guided by both educators and coaches from the participating nations. Thanks to the excellent facilities at CARDA and the availability of five official mats, strength and conditioning areas, saunas, and recovery facilities, athletes were able to prepare under optimal conditions.

GUAWrestlers warm up and get ready to compete at the XXXIV "Pat Shaw" Memorial Cup. (Photo: United World Wrestling)

The week culminated with the XXXIV "Pat Shaw" Memorial Cup, held on May 31 and June 1. This year’s competition featured 619 matches across three wrestling styles: Freestyle (FS), Greco-Roman (GR), and Women’s Wrestling (WW), in four age groups: Senior, U20, U17, and U15. Over 308 athletes from 16 countries competed, including delegations from Barbados, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and the United States.

The entire competition was managed using UWW’s official Arena system, with full implementation of the latest UWW standards in terms of competition management, medical protocols, anti-doping education, and technological support, with valuable collaboration from the UWW Americas T&R team.

The Pat Shaw Memorial - Regional Education Development Tournament continues to serve as a cornerstone for the development of wrestling in the Americas, providing athletes, coaches, and referees an invaluable opportunity for growth within a fully integrated educational and competitive framework.

United World Wrestling firmly believes that programs like these represent the ideal path for sustainable development, offering new generations of participants access to high-level international events while enhancing both their technical and personal growth within our sport.